Hopper for button feeding



P 1950 o. HALBREICH 2,954,110

HOPPER FOR BUTTON FEEDING Filed D60. 19, 1958 .uflitfid States r HOPPER FOR BUTTON FEEDING Oscar Halbreich, Forest Hills, N.Y., assignor to Kern Button Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 781,583

1 Claim. (Cl. 193-2) This invention relates generally to the field of hopper feeding devices of a type adapted to successively insert small articles in predetermined relation into a chute or track feeding device. Although the invention has many applications, I have chosen to illustrate the same embodied in a button feeding hopper normally used in con-, junction with a sewing machine or similar device.

On the drawings, to which reference will be made in I several views.

Figure l is a fragmentary front view in perspective I showing an embodiment of the invention.

sion of an outer shell in which a rotating member revolves to scoop buttons disposed in the lower part of the shell and raise them to a point where they fall upon converging inner walls or septums which align the button to a substantially vertical condition for entry into the mouth of a chute or slide. Particularly when employing buttons of relatively large diameter, there will be a tendency for the same to engage each other on the peripheral edges thereof in such manner as to become wedged in the opening entrance to the button chute,

[Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment with the front cover member removed. This view shows the occurrence of a jammed condition immediately prior to clearing.

Figure 3 is a similar fragmentary view in perspective showing the operation of the clearing means.

Figure 4 is a similar fragmentary view in perspective showing the button clearing means in its original position with the jammed condition in cleared state.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view as seen from the 7 plane 5--5 on Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view as seen from the plane 6-6 on Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view corresponding to that seen on Figure 6 but showing the button clearing means in operation.

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 8-8 on Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the hopper, partly broken away to show detail.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 10-10 on Figure 3.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broad- 1y: a base element 11, an outer casing element 12, a

button lifting element 13, a button guiding element 14,

thereby preventing further entry of any button theresuflicient buttons will remain in the chute to constantly supply the lower end, until a larger number of buttons in the upper end is replenished.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an automatic clearing device which will be intermittently operated during rotation of the hopper, so that it is not necessary for the operator to learn of the occurrence of a jammed condition to activate the device and no actuating of mechanisms are required.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of construction of the class described in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, and with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of an automatic button clearing device which may be substantially concealed within the housing of the button hopper, thereby protecting the same against dirt, damage, or unauthorized handling.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the inventive structure may be used in conjunction with a wide variety of hopper types without extensive alteration.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claim.

and a track element 15.

The base element 11 may be of any desired configura tion, including a horizontal member 17 adapted to be bolted or positioned upon a table or other support (not shown) and a vertical column 19 which supports the outer casing element 12.

The outer casing element 12 includes a rear plate member 22, a cylindrical casing member 23, a front rim 24 and a front cover 25, all of which are of generally conventional construction. Study mounting means 26 cooperates with thumb screw means 27 for maintaining the cover member 25 in detachable association adjacent the front rim 24.

The button lifting element 13 includes a vertical circular plate 30 having a plurality of button lifting members 31 arranged at substantially equal intervals around the periphery thereof. Bearing means 32 supports the plate 30 through a shaft 35, the shaft 35 being driven through a pulley 33 by a belt 34. The belt, in turn, may be driven by the sewing machine motor (not shown) so as to provide continuous hopper operation while the buttons, generally indicated by reference character 70, are being consumed.

The button guiding element 14 is secured to the track element 15 within the casing element 12, and includes a first guide member 39 having an upper edge 40 and a lower edge 41. Mounted at the lower edge 41 is a bracket 42 which provides an upper supporting surface 43. An adjustment screw 44 on a bracket 45 is adapted to extend adjustably above the surface 43.

The member 39 supports a second relatively movable guiding member 46 which is mounted on a pivotal stud 47, best seen in Figure 10. The movable guiding member 46 includes a guide plate 48 having an upper surface 49 arranged at substantially a right angle with respect to the upper surface of the plate 39. A second surface 50 lies substantially parallel to the surface of the member 39 thereby forming a recess in which the buttons 70 may feed to the track element 15. The bottom of the recess Patented Sept. 27, 1960 v is closed by an elongated member 55 adapted to contact the peripheral edges of the buttons 70.

Extending rearwardly from the upper portion of the movable guide member 46 is a cam engaging lug 57 whichcooperates selectively with one of a plurality of cam members 58 mounted on the inner surface of the plate 30. The cam members 58 are generally similar, and are mounted at substantially equal spaced intervals between the button lifting member 37, although there need not be as many of them. Each includes a camming surface 60 adapted to engage the lug to pivot the movable member 46 in an upward direction until the high point 61 is passed. Due to the fact that the axis of the stud 47 is disposed at approximately a 45 degree angle with respect to the horizontal, upward movement will tend to move the end of the lug 57 away from the path of the cam members 58 to permit release after the cam member has passed. A return spring 62 is bolted to the upper end of the member 46, a free end 62a extending beneath the fixed member 39 to provide resilient action assuring the return of the member 46 to the position shown in Figures 2 and 4. The track element 15 may be of any conventional type, and includes a base member 63 supported by means (not shown) on the front rim 24. The base member includes an upper surface 64 having an opening 65 through which buttons 70 may pass. A plurality of rails 67 and 68 define a slot 69 supporting the shank portions 71 of the button 70 as is well known in the art.

Before commencing operation, the normal level of the movable member 46 is determined by the adjustment of the screw 44 in such manner that buttons falling there from will be guided through the opening 65 in the base member of the chute. During rotation of the plate 30, the lifting members 31 scoop a plurality of buttons 70 and raise the same up to a point where they will fall upon the members 39 and 46. At periodic intervals, the lug 57 will be contacted by one of the cam members 58, this operation occurring irrespective of the presence of a jammed condition as shown on Figure 2. Should no jam be present at the time of such contact, no harm occurs,

4 the feeding of successive buttons being interrupted only for a very small period of time.

It may thus be seen that I have inverted novel and highly useful improvements in hopper construction for button feeding, in which there has been provided an automatic means for clearing button jams irrespective of the size of button employed. The button clearing means functions entirely automatically, and once adjusted, requires no further adjustments until a change is made in size of button being fed. The incorporation of the inventive structure adds very little to the cost of the hopper, and no additional controls or driving means are necessary,

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. 4

'I claim:

In a button feeding hopper of the class described, a rotary plate having button lifting means and camming means thereon, a button track element having an upper end terminating in a button guiding means in the area of said button lifting means, said button guiding means in- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,469,556 Goebel Oct. 2, 1923 2,326,816 Woodberry Aug. 17, 1943 2,341,373 Gantzer Feb. 8, 1944 2,356,088 Prokul Aug. 15, 1944 2,419,242 Woodberry et al. Apr. 22, 1947 

